Vintage Shopping in Charlotte

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The Plaza-Midwood neighborhood, located in eastern Charlotte, was founded in the early 1900’s as a street car suburb offering residents easy access to downtown. A renaissance period beginning in the mid 1990’s helped the area grow and further enhanced its sense of charm. A wide variety of artful merchants have set up shop, showcasing the unique facades of the original buildings. With dozens of eclectic and funky retail stores all in walking distance of each other, a shopping trip to Plaza-Midwood is sure to produce a wealth of unique gifts, furniture, home décor items and clothes you just won’t find at the mall.

The main corridor, the 1500 block of Central Avenue between Thomas and Pecan Avenues, is a home decorator’s dream. Fifteen Ten Antiques offers everything from furniture and vintage chandeliers to dishware and glasses. This antique store operates more like a department store; items get marked down regularly in order move merchandise and display new pieces. Across the street, Clark’s Antiques offers a huge selection of antique furniture and accessories. Also on this block is Century, a decade-old shop with more vintage and art deco pieces for the home than you can shake a stick at. Century also carries mid-century clothing, accessories and art. This 3,200 square-foot store is arranged in neat vignettes and houses The Patchwerk Playhaus, a cozy performance space covered from floor to ceiling in patchwork vintage fabrics, and filled with vintage sofas and chairs, all for sale. The Patchwerk Playhaus features independent and foreign films every Saturday night and owner Allyson Speaks serves up popcorn made with her stir crazy popcorn machine. Allyson has also been known to host special, secret music shows such as regional folk artists Megafaun, coming up in February. A few doors down, Pura Vida Wordly Art has scores of Spanish, Turkish and Mexican pottery along with a large selection of imported jewelry, one-of-a kind clothing and folk art from India, Nepal, Peru and Guatemala. Owner Teresa Hernandez schedules live music and other events on Sundays in a comfy area at the back of the store. Over on Thomas Avenue, City Supply Company carries a wide range of unique textiles, modern furniture, home décor items, candles, and quirky gifts.

Plaza-Midwood has a diverse selection of hip eateries, which are perfect for enjoying a break while shopping. Refueling is decadent at Nova’s Bakery with a great cup of Joe and freshly baked pastries. John’s Country Kitchen, operating since 1977, is a true southern diner full of locals, and serves up everything from delicious hot cakes to brains and eggs. If organ meats aren’t your thing, step on over to Zada Jane’s where the menu playfully pits the vegetarians and meat eaters against one another. Open for lunch and dinner, these friendly folks offer homemade biscuits and the very popular Bunny Rancheros, one of many signature dishes. A hip pizza joint in an old tire shop, a tattoo parlor, a record store, and a reputable jewelry and pawn also dot this city block. And don’t miss the fried pickles and grilled spicy pimento cheese sandwiches over at The Penguin, one of Charlotte’s landmark bars.

The area is also home to clothing boutiques Lotus and Boris & Natasha. Both stores offer a cool assortment of trendy clothes perfect for the hipster scene. The local corner store, The Common Market, always has a reliably great selection of wine, which you can drink on their cozy back patio, while the neighborhood bookstore, Book Buyers, is known for having one of the largest collections of used books in town.

Round out your day of shopping in one of Charlotte’s most novel neighborhoods by taking a jaunt down a side street. These early ranch-style homes, bungalows and Victorian houses have been beautifully restored and offer some serious inspiration for your next home update. Take home some great ideas and think of it as a souvenir.

When to go: Best to start your day around 10 am, when the shops are opening. Most close around 6 or 7 in the evening. Be sure to check days and hours of operation for each venue.

How to get there
From 1-77 North, take exit 9 for US 74 E/I-277 N/John Belk Frwy. Merge onto I-277 N/US 74 E. Take exit 2A for Fourth St/Third St/NC-16 S. Turn right on E Third St. Turn left at Kings Dr. Kings Dr will curve right and turn into Central Avenue.

From I-77 South, take exit 11 for I-277 S/Brookshire Freeway, and merge onto W Brookshire Freeway/I-277 S/NC-16 S. Take the exit toward McDowell St/Brevard St/Davidson St. Merge onto E 11th street, crossing over Davidsont St. Turn left on E 10th St. Turn left on Central Avenue.

From Central Avenue, turn right on Thomas Avenue, and you will see a convenient parking lot on your right. Park and head out onto Central Avenue to start your day.